In my second year of teaching, I became the English Leader at the primary school I worked at in Stockport. It was through this role that I realised the power of a school’s curriculum, the importance of early reading and how books have the remarkable ability to captivate young minds. At Coppice Valley, we recognise the importance of nurturing a love for reading from an early age and this is an essential foundation for our school vision ‘Learners for Life’.
Beyond the pleasure of reading lies a deeper purpose: the cultivation of empathy and understanding. Through the diverse characters, cultures and experiences depicted in books, our children can walk in the shoes of others, gain insight into different perspectives and develop an appreciation for the diversity of the world around them. In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to empathise and understand others is more important than ever. This skill, learnt partly through reading, will undoubtedly help our children navigate their own future with compassion and understanding.
On World Book Day at Coppice Valley, creativity and imagination took centre stage as we came to school dressed as words. From ‘menacing’, ‘crazy’ and ‘golden’ children, to ‘sartorial’, ‘sparkly’, ‘rainbow’ staff, we embraced the opportunity to celebrate the magic of language with a word parade around the school hall. Some children came as their favourite word, others thought of a word to match their favourite fancy dress outfit, but everyone used their imagination to think outside of the box.
Participation in events like World Book Day are important as inject excitement and raise the profile of reading. This year it has reaffirmed our commitment to promoting and fostering a love of reading. We have a team of Reading Leaders who know that children need a rich and varied reading diet. We work hard with staff across school to make sure that children benefit from high-quality texts tailored to individual reading levels. This is achieved through class libraries, reading groups and tailored interventions. We make space in both our school and timetable for reading for pleasure; children are read to every day by their class teacher and our Key Stage libraries are well cared for.
The Coppice Valley Reading Programme stands as a testament to our ongoing commitment to nurturing ‘Learners for Life’ who are equipped with the skills and passion for reading that will serve them well throughout their academic journey and beyond.
You can see some of the high-quality texts we use, as well as support our reading programme through our Wishlist: Amazon.co.uk
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